Even after a disappointing finish with Luka Doncic in Dallas, most fans and insiders agree that Kyrie Irving will most likely re-sign with the Mavericks this summer on a long-term deal. At this point, the Mavs are far too desperate to let him walk for nothing.
But could the Lakers still be in play for Uncle Drew? The acquisition of D’Angelo Russell obviously complicates things, but one NBA GM recently told Heavy Sports that he believes the Lakers will ultimately land Irving before it’s all said and done.
“They’ve got to look at this as, OK, how many years does LeBron have and how many years can they actually keep Anthony Davis engaged? Because AD ain’t got any great love for this game. So their window is a short one. Do they go after the superteam piece and figure out how to bring Kyrie in there? You know damn well Kyrie is not coming in for a discount,” said the exec. “So do you stay the course and stick with D-Lo (Russell) and Rui and all of that group and say, ‘OK, let’s play with the two stars and try and have some reasonable depth’? I predict that they’ll try to figure out a way to pay Kyrie Irving and bring him in.”
Interestingly enough, the Lakers could end up making a pretty deep run with this current group. With LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and a rich pool of supporting cast members, the Lakers seem to have just enough firepower to compete with the best in the West.
But going after Irving gives them a chance to not only add another shooter to the mix but also a proven star with a history of success winning with LeBron.
Lakers Must Choose Between D’Angelo Russell And Kyrie Irving
It’s no secret that the Lakers were very high on Russell before the NBA playoffs, and many still think that Rob Pelinka will end up keeping him around on a long-term deal. Of course, the Lakers will have to choose which star to keep, and LeBron may already be laying down the groundwork for a reunion with Irving.
“This is absolutely a free agent maneuver, LeBron picking him, LeBron praising him,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said. “It’s still way too early how it’s going to work out in Dallas [for Irving]. When the microphones are on, it’s a good idea to make it sound like he wants to be his best friend again.”
For now, the Lakers are focused on the postseason and the challenges that are right in front of them. But if they fall short of their goals this season, you can expect the franchise to be aggressive in upgrading the roster.
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